Device for protecting divers from strong underwater currents

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A DEVICE FOR PROTECTING DIVERS AGAINST THE INFLUENCE OF UNDERWATER CURRENTS, THE DEVICE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR MEMBER ENGAGING A CABLE WHICH IS FIRMLY CONNECTABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BODY OF WATER AND TO RELATIVELY STATIONARY POINT ADJACENT THE WATER SURFACE, THE TUBULAR MEMBER BEING DIMENSIONED TO PERMIT THE MOVEMENT THERETHROUGH OF A DIVER AND BEING AT LEAST PARTLY PERFORATE TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE OF WATER TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH.

Sept. 20, 1971 WOLF 3,605,417

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING DIVERS FROM STRONG UNDERWATER CURRENTS Filed June 3, 1969 United States Patent rm. (:1. B63c 11/00 US. C]. 6169 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a device for protecting divers against the influence of underwater currents, the device comprising at least one substantially tubular member engaging a cable which is firmly connectable at the bottom of the body of water and to relatively stationary point adjacent the water surface, the tubular member being dimensioned to permit the movement therethrough of a diver and being at least partly perforate to permit the passage of water transversely therethrough.

This invention relates to a device for protecting divers from the effects of impetuous currents when working in deep waters.

Divers and aquanauts or frogmen are often required to work in deep river or sea waters under conditions of strong currents, the impacts of which are not only felt on their body but also have effect on the air tube and guide line. Such impacts may easily weaken the divers resistance, creating conditions which could endanger the divers life.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which will enable a diver to reach the bed of a river or deep sea waters under conditions of impetuous currents, with no greater effort than that required for diving in quiet waters under ideal conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will enable a diver to work in deep water under strong currents without having to suffer the effects of such currents either on his body or on his air tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for protecting divers from strong underwater currents, formed by easily interconnectable sections which can be added in situ, as required to reach the desired depth.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device which will simultaneously protect two or more divers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description there proceeds.

The device for protecting divers from the effects of strong underwater currents according to this invention comprises at least one cable connectable to an anchor at the bottom of the river or sea and to a relatively stationary point remote from said anchor and located in the neighborhood of the water surface; at least one tubular member engaging said cable and having an inner diameter sufficient to allow the movement therethrough of at least one diver at a time, said tubular member being at least partly perforate to allow the partial passage of the water current; and gate means in said tubular member for allowing a diver to enter or leave said tubular member therethrough.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried into practice, a preferred embodiment thereof has been illustrated by way of example and in a somewhat diagrammatic manner in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic 'view of a device using two basic tubular units in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is also a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 1

"ice

but comprising four basic units lowered in a more inclined plane;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view showing a basic tubular unit of the device according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the unit shown in FIG. 3.

The same reference characters are used to indicate like or corresponding parts or elements throughout the drawings.

As shown in the drawings, the protecting device in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of basic units 1. Each unit 1 comprises a tubular member,

preferably about 2.50 meters long and having an internal diameter sufficient to allow the movement therethrough of one or two divers. The units 1 are connected to each other by detachable hinge means 2 so as to form an articulated tube which can be extended to the required depth by simply connecting additional units 1 to the top portion thereof.

In the embodiment as shown, each of the units 1 carries fixed to the outer wall thereof a sheave 3, and the tube is retained against the current by means of a guide cable 4 the upper portion of which is supported above the water surface as at 5 on a vessel or any other suitable stationary point. The guide cable 4 engages said sheaves 3 and the lower end thereof is attached to a fixed point 6 such as an anchor or the like.

In order to lower the tube (which is successively sup plemented from the top with more basic units 1, there is provided a lowering cable 7, one end of which is secured as at 7 to the bottom end of the lowermost unit 1. From the point of attachment 7' the cable 7 is passed around a sheave 8 fixed to the anchor 6 and thence extends upwardly to a winch or the like (not shown) located on a vessel or other surface structure, and is operated by said winch. The cable 7 also serves to retain the articulated tube in position when lowered. It should be understood that more than one lowering cable 7 may be used when it is found necessary or convenient, and also that the tube may be lowered substantially vertically as shown in FIG. 1, or in a more inclined position as shown in FIG. 2.

The tube basic unit 1 is preferably made of light metal or plastic material and is provided with a plurality of perforations 11, preferably along the entire contour thereof, to allow the surrounding water to pass transversely through the articulated tube so as to lessen the pressure exerted upstream. The upper end of the tube is preferably held above the water surface against a vessel or other stationary point by means of the guide cable 4.

In the case of operating in waters at no great depths or where the currents are not very strong, the basic units 1 may be joined to each other by means of fixed clamps.

The downstream front 9 of each basic unit '1 is open so that the diver may readily enter or leave the articulated tube when desired. The longitudinal sides of the opening 9 in each unit 1 are joined together by gate means comprising two or more releasable reinforcing arcuate strips -'10 strong enough to insure the stability of the basic unit 1 against the pressure of the water, as well as to avoid deformation of the unit. The strips 10 are preferably provided with any suitable locking means (not shown) so that they may be removed by hand, to expose the opening 9, from the outside as well as from the inside of the tube. It will be understood that during normal use only the strip .10 located in the zone where the diver is to perform his duties will be removed, the rest of the strips remaining looked in order to insure the stability of the tube. Preferably, the strips are slidable in both directions into their open and closed positions.

The interior of the articulated tube is preferably provided with devices for supporting tubes of various diameters, for example for compressed air, pressure or bailing water, etc. Furthermore, it is possible to lower or raise tools, machines or any other implement or material for use by the diver.

By means of the system as described above it will be quite easy to bring to the surface a diver who has sulTered an accident, which otherwise would be very difficult, if not impossible, when operating in deep water with strong currents.

For operating under very impetuous currents and depending on the depth at which the articulated tube is lowered, two guide cables 4 may be provided.

When the diving operation is interrupted, the cables 4 and 7 are loosened.

While I have described and shown a specific embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that many changes and/or modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing fromv the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for protecting divers from strong underwater currents, comprising at least one cable connectable to an anchor at the bottom of a river or sea and to a relatively stationary point remote from said anchor and located in the neighborhood of the water surface; at least one substantially tubular member engaging said cable and having an inner diameter sufiicient to allow the movement therethrough of at least one diver at a time, said tubular member being at least partly perforate to allow the passage of water transversely therethrough; and gate means operative with said tubular member for allowing a diver to enter or leave said tubular member therethrough.

'2. A device for protecting divers from. strong underwater currents, comprising at least one cable connectable to an anchor at the bottom of a river or sea and to a relatively stationary point remote from said anchor and located in the neighborhood of the water surface; a plurality of tubular members detachably connected to each other so as to form an articulated tube; means in each of said tubular members engaged by said cable; each of said tubular members having an inner diameter suflicient to allow the movement therethrough of at least one diver at a time and having a plurality of perforations to allow the passage of water transversely therethrough; and gate means operative with each one of said tubular members for allowing a diver to enter or leave said tubular member therethrough.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular members carry sheaves on the outer side thereof, engaged by said cable.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein two cables are provided, one of said cables engaging sheaves provided outwardly of said tubular members and the other being anchored to the bottom of the lowermost tubular member.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said tubular members is provided with at least one sheave on the outer wall thereof, there being provided two cables, the other of which is fixed to the lowermost of said tubular members, extends about a sheave in said anchor and thence upwardly to a relatively stationary winch in the neighborhood of the water surface.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least two successive tubular members are hinged to each other.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said relatively stationary point forms part of a vessel.

8. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cable is a steel cable.

9. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cable is a plastic rope.

10. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular members are made of steel.

11. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular members are made of plastic material.

12. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular members are cylindrical in cross-section.

13. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubular members are oval in cross-section.

14-. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tubes are light sheet metal tubes.

15. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gate means comprises lockable slidablc strip members extending across an access opening in said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,361 9/1901 Watson 6l-69 1,866,438 7/1932 Williamson 61-69 3,299,846 l/1967 Javlan 61-46X 3,393,525 7/1968 Goepfcrt 6l69 J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner 

